FIFA 11 demo now available for download

EA Sports has released the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions of its highly-anticipated playable demo of FIFA 11, on Xbox Live, PlayStation Store and www.fifa.easports.com respectively.

The demo allows you to play two 3-minute halves in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen or Olympique Lyonnais. Additionally, Arsenal can be unlocked by completing certain achievements on the Facebook footy management game FIFA Superstars.

Many of the game's new features are present, including Personality+, the new individual skill set for different players, 360 degree Fight for Possession that introduces a more physical type of play, and Pro Passing, where accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability, combined with in-game player skill.

EA Sports also revealed its full line-up of international stars that will adorn the cover art Internationally and be involved with marketing of the title in different regions:

You can guarantee that each of those will feature their specific skill sets with Personality+, but it remains to be seen how much Wayne Rooney will get involved in the game's release considering the recent revelations in the UK press about his personal life.

FIFA 11 is scheduled for release on multiple formats on 1 October 2010.

Is it shaping up to be the games launch of the year? Let us know in the comments below...

Our senior ed of news and features has been a tech and games journalist for more than 27 years, and has been with Pocket-lint for over five. Rik has edited a number of videogame magazines in the past, was deputy editor of Home Cinema Choice, and his TV career included stints as co-presenter of Channel 4's Gamesmaster and Sky One’s Games World.